Rwanda and Uganda address fallout

Rwandan Foreign minister, Oliver Nduhungirehe, explained the ongoing border standoff between his country and Uganda. In two tweets posted on his official account, Nduhungirehe clarified that Rwanda’s borders were not closed, adding that Rwandans were however ‘strongly advised not to travel to Uganda’.

Background

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda is one of the smallest countries on the African mainland. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda is in the African Great Lakes region and is highly elevated; its geography is dominated by mountains in the west and savanna to the east, with numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate to subtropical, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year.

The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country that is also located in East-Central Africa. The country shares its borders with Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied but generally a modified equatorial climate.

The two countries have been in a political dispute over border crossing since Wednesday, February 27, with both the governments issuing statements on social media.

Analysis

Oliver Nduhungirehe, the minister for foreign affairs for Rwanda, clarified that Rwanda’s borders weren’t closed while advising people to use the alternative route through Kagitumba due to ongoing construction at Gatuna.

He also advised against Rwandan citizens travelling to Uganda. ‘‘Rwandans are strongly advised NOT to travel to Uganda due to ongoing arrests, harassment, torture, incarceration without consular access, deportation etc. This is for their own security” read a statement released by the minister.

The diplomatic spat between Rwanda and Uganda is being played out on social media as high-level officials of the two governments trade accusations over the origins of the conflict.

Uganda’s government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo and Rwanda’s state minister for foreign affairs, Oliver Nduhungirehe on Friday were involved in a public display of animosity, as the latter accused Uganda of ‘detaining Rwandan nationals incommunicado’.

In his briefing to journalists on Friday, Opondo said Rwandans were being prevented from travelling to Uganda, and trucks from Uganda had been barred from accessing Rwanda via Gatuna. Opondo explained that all vehicles coming from Rwanda have been able to enter Uganda but that vehicles passing into Rwanda were being blocked. He continued by saying Rwandese nationals weren’t being allowed to travel to Uganda.

Addressing the allegations on Uganda harassing Rwandan citizens, Opondo said,” We would like to send a clear message to Rwanda that there’s no one Uganda is harassing from Rwanda or has in custody.” The Rwandan minister was quick in his rebuttal. He said that were 40 Rwandan citizens languishing in Ugandan jails while more than 800 citizens have been deported from or refused entry to Uganda since January 2018.

Relations between Rwanda and Ugandan have recently become soiled by counter accusations of espionage and engaging in activities to destabilize each other. Ugandan recently deported several top telecommunications officials including a Rwandan national, accusing them of compromising its national security.

Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly alluded to foreign agents attempting to destabilize the country. Last year, Museveni hosted his counterpart, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and reduced the deteriorating relations to ‘a lapse in communication’.

Assessment

Our assessment is that the political fallout between Rwanda and Uganda can be sorted out by better communication between their leaders. The Ugandan President has said that telephoning could play an important role in facilitating smooth relations between the countries.